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Horacio

♂ Boy

Pronounced oh-RAH-see-oh /oʊˈrɑ.si.oʊ/High

Meaning: Spanish form of Horatius, the Roman clan name of the poet Horace, sometimes linked to hora, 'hour, time'Medium

In 30 seconds: The poet Horace in Spanish dress: Horacio carries the Roman clan name behind 'carpe diem'. Quiroga wrote its darkest stories; Buenos Aires named half its avenues for them.

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Origin MediumSpanish, Latin

MeaningSpanish form of Horatius, the Roman clan name of the poet Horace, sometimes linked to hora, 'hour, time'

U.S. rank (2025)#3604 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births31 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2001

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,503

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Horacio is the Spanish form of Horatius, the ancient Roman clan of the legendary bridge-defender Horatius Cocles and the poet Horace; the name's root is uncertain, with Latin hora, 'hour, time', the traditional guess. Spanish and Latin American letters embraced it — Uruguayan master of the macabre Horacio Quiroga chief among bearers.

Cortázar made a Horacio the wandering hero of Rayuela, and Argentine and Mexican public life keeps the name in print. In the U.S. it is an uncommon, bookshelf-warm classic of Hispanic families.

Did you know? The Roman poet Horace — Quintus Horatius Flaccus — coined 'carpe diem' in his Odes, planting this clan name forever in world literature.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name — Horatius — clan name, uncertain root

Variations

HoratioOrazioHorace

Nicknames

LachoYayo

Famous Bearers

★Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937)
Uruguayan writer, master of the Latin American short story.

If you like Horacio…

Octavio— a fellow Roman clan name beloved in Spanish

Ignacio— another four-syllable Hispanic classic

Emilio— shares the literary Latin warmth

Ovidio— shares the -io ending

Rogelio— a fellow Spanish choice

Explore names like Horacio

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Horacio mean?

Horacio is the Spanish form of Roman Horatius, traditionally linked to hora, 'hour, time', though the clan name's origin is uncertain.

How do you pronounce Horacio?

It's said oh-RAH-see-oh /oʊˈrɑ.si.oʊ/ — four syllables, stress on the second, with a silent H.

Is Horacio a boy or girl name?

Horacio is a boy's name.

How popular is Horacio?

Horacio is uncommon in the U.S. and traditional across Latin America.